Austin said US military forces carried out necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by the Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other armed groups in Iraq.

The strikes came a couple of days after American service members stationed in the western part of Iraq were attacked by multiple ballistic missiles.

Austin said the US has no intention of escalating conflicts in the region, but is prepared to take additional measures to protect its people and facilities.

US Central Command said the strikes targeted “KH headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities.”

According to the Pentagon, US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in more than 150 attacks since the Israel-Gaza conflict started last October.  

Washington has retaliated in both countries. The US has 2,500 troops in Iraq and 900 in Syria advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State.